Metal folding rule



(No Model.)

' W. HOHNSTBIN.

METAL FOLDING RULE.

No. 439,511. Patented Oct. 28, 1890 752mm: Ensm.

Tm'. Nunn s PETERS cu, wenn mu. wnsuwmun, u. c

UNrTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VIITLIAM IIOIINSTEIN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

METAL FOLDING RULE.

SECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,511, dated October28, 1890.

Application tied February 21,1890. stanno. 341,298. memorial.)

' To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM HoHNsTEIN,

souri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in MetalFolding Rules, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing had to the acA companying drawings, forming part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to a solid-metal folding rule in which the majorhinge is provided with two pairs of dual center hinge-plates thatconjointly fit to the outside of their respective sections, to whichthey are secured, and having minor hinges integral with thequarterjunctions of said sections, and which rule is provided withparallel dual clutch-lu gs secu red to certain sections of saidrule-plates, and that clutch their corresponding sections when foldedand hold them to their conjoint registered positions within the embraceof said lugs; and the invention consists in features of noveltyhereinafter fully described74 and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a side perspective of the rule closed. Fig. Il is a likeview of the rule open. Fig. III is an enlarged vertical section taken online III 111, Fig. I, and shows the corresponding quarter-sections ofthe ruleplate held in their folded registering position by the dual lugssecured to one quarter-section, and that embrace its correspondingfolded section. Fig. 1V is a detail perspective view of the major hinge,showing the parts disassembled.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the folding quarter-sections ofthe rule, on which is inscribed the graduated measurementscale 2 andindicating=figures 3 marked thereon, which rule in all its parts ispreferablymade of brass, but may be of any other suitable metal.

4 represent dual plates of the major or center hinge, and 5 are circularprojections from .said plates.

6 are dual corresponding surface plates to Jhe hinge-plates abovementioned, and whose concave recessed edges 7 fit to the convex edges 8of the projections 5 of said plates. These hinge-plates are respectivelysecured to the ontsides of said sections of the rule, preferably byrivets 9, that are seated and riveted in the perforations l0 in saidplates and rule-sections; but they may be secured by brazing or by anysuitable means.

11 represents a circular projection from the hinge end of the rulequarter-section, to which are attached the plates 6, and whichprojection registers and works within the circular projections 5 of thehinge-plates 4 and within the concave recess 12 of its conjoint quarterrule-section. The pivot-pin 13 is seated in the center bearings 14 inthe circular proj ections 5 of the hinge-plates 4c, and the likecorresponding projections of its conjoint rulesection pivotally securestogether the members of the major hinge.

15 represent the minor or quarter hinges which pivotally secure togetherthe middle quarter-sections of the rule to their terminalquarter-sections. The alternating loops 1G, which are integral with therespective quarter-sections that they couple together, are pivotallyconnected by the hinge-pins 17.

19 represent the dual parallel clutch-lugs, which are secured to certainof the corresponding quarter-sections of the rule, preferably by rivets20, that are seated and riveted in the perforations 2l in said lugs andin said sections of the rule; but said lugs may be secured to saidquartensections by brazing or by any other suitable means.

Now it will be seen that this solid-metal rule will fold into a morecompact compass than either a wooden or ivory rule, which to have therequisite strength must have largely more material in it, or of atubular metal rule, which is also too bulky for pocket use, for whichfolding rules are generally intended. It will also be seen that as thebrass or other metal plate of which the quarter-sections of the rule areconstructed can be and preferably is of not more, and may be less, thana sixteenth of an inch in thickness, so as to fold into a more compactform for a pocket-rule, it became necessary that some other means ofclamping together' the quarter-sections of the rule should be devised,as the plate of which they are constructed is too thin for the insertionof the usual pointed dowel-pin in one quarter-section and thesocket-hole in the corresponding section in which said dowelpinregisters, when the rule is folded. Besides that, the said pointeddowel-pins have IOO a rule, it is' especially Well adapted `for the vuse of master mechanics and foremenin machines-shops, who ,require alight and handy ,manpower-m11@ ,awa-ys iarhanaanalasiiy handled fortesting the botas' vWell 'asV 'cold metal'yvork ',hat'i's beingproducedin' the shops have .ShQWn .and .described the minor hinges that'connect the 'terminal quarterLsec- YtiiS 'to'tlie'cenfr' seti ,intgllwith Seid sections, Vyet, althoughI said @construction is preterred, ,I"do1 not fconiine' myself thereto, for

with, at its inner end fitting said recess 12, having a pivot-hole andprovided with two outside hinge-plates 6, each having'a concave recess 7titting a projection 5, and a pivot-pin 13, by which the three circularprojections are secured together for hinging the sections together,substantially as' described.

2. A solid-metal folding rule constructed with sections, major hingesconnectingr the sections, and a pair of clutch-lugs 19, secured to theinner edge ot' one section and embracing the inner edge of the'oppositesection, substantially as described. f 3. A solid-metal folding ruleconstructed with four sectionsformed with minor hinges integraltherewith, apair of clutch-lugs 1,9, se- .Cured t0 the 11111161?dg'eotrvo'ff' ,th Sqtins and "embracing thennefiedg'e Of the'A.fr'fpofsite .sctionene Of the'er Sections beihg'fdiwd .With'cjohtaverecss' ,1,2atit`s iurllrnd and proyided with ltvvooutsidethinge#plates 4f, each having cirunrnfojeupn 15am-a'pivot-'hole 1,4, andthe other innerlse'ctio'n being formedVV With'acircular projection "11, irite'glral'therewith, at its inner end iittingsaid'recess 12, having a 'iiVQt-hble" and 'provided 'w'ith'tWOOu- Side''plates iecr 'having a' ylcavereess'? tfiing i'iequ'lahinselp'ill17,'9011i1ct11g .the .minorfhig'sanda pivot-pi. 1,3, Lb'r'irhieh thethree circulariprojections are securedjtoi2,thijsrffn" hinging'the innersect/onsftog'ether, substantially asdescribed.

WILLIAM H10HNsirEIN .In presence cf-' E" BENJN. A; KNIGHT,

SAML. KNIGHT. l'

